One of the things she appreciated most about China was its variety. "From green mountain villages to vibrant city streets, every part of China has something new to offer," she said.

John Coles, managing director of a London-based travel agency, said he had heard a lot, sometimes quite negative things, from Western media about China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region before he set his feet on the land for the first time. "But for me, one of the great thrills of traveling is to go and see things with my own eyes."

And what he saw defied all the headlines.

From vast grasslands to snow-capped mountains and sweeping deserts, Xinjiang's landscapes left Coles deeply impressed. "The real surprise," he noted, "was the alpine scenery in the mountains. It looked like something from Switzerland or the Canadian Rockies."

As his journey continued, Coles found himself drawn not only to the scenery but to the deep historical resonance of the Silk Road. "Many European and Western tourists are fascinated by the Silk Road, its history and romance as a trading route," he explained. "But it carried more than goods. It carried ideas."

In remote corners of the region, he encountered crumbling ancient cities, their ruins still whispering the stories of the past. "These are incredible, hidden places," he said. "Deserted cities, full of history, waiting to be seen."

Yet what surprised him most was the pace of contemporary change. From cutting-edge infrastructure to enormous wind farms stretching across the landscape, Coles was struck by the scale and speed of development. "The size of the wind turbines was almost unbelievable. The transformation is happening so fast."

Editor Ⅰ: Zhang Wenwen

Editor Ⅱ: Wu Dan

Editor Ⅲ: Liu Guosong